It is vital that the promotion of sport generally and the development of facilities, such as swimming pools, are carried out in a strategic and focused way, which means establishing priorities, avoiding overlaps and ensuring maximum public access to available facilities. I am anxious that the investment of taxpayers' money by the Government provides value for money by ensuring that attractive, viable facilities are built and with the level of funding provided for 2003 by my Department at €61 million, in respect of the sports capital programme, and €9 million, in respect of the local authority swimming pool programme, the commitment to sport by the Government is being sustained. Since 1998 more than €2.3 million has been provided, through the sports capital programme, to various sports clubs in County Longford.